May 30, 1863 Vicksburg
Siege of Vicksburg,
Sunday May 30th, 1863.
Mr. Editor:
This is the 13th day of the siege and the Rebels still hold
the city. We can't get in yet, so as to secure them all prisoners,
and they can't get out, for we have them entirely surrounded, our
army being entrenched on all the surrounding hills, from 200 to
1000 yards from their line of forts and rifle pits, and our
gunboats on the river. We have driven them from Haynes' Bluff and
all their outer works, opened communication via Yazoo River with
Young's Point, so that we have plentiful supplies, and can stay on
these heights just as long as Gen. Grant thinks best. The Rebels
may have three days, three weeks, or it may be three months
rations, but they can't last always. Perhaps they think they will
be reinforced or they can cut their way out, but they will fail in
both. We can prevent either. A charge was made on the 22nd inst. in
which our brigade participated, Col. Charles R. Woods commanding,
but our force could not carry the works, the ground was so
unfavorable and they were repulsed with considerable loss. You have
probably heard all the particulars ere this. The 76th was not in
the charge, as they were holding a very important position on a
high hill on the right, near the bend of the river, which commands
two roads where the rebels would be most likely to try to cut their
way out. Our regiment has occupied this position since the second
day of the siege, and has been practicing sharpshooting at the
Rebels all the time, until they hardly dare to raise their heads
above their rifle pits. Their artillery seems to be silenced, as
they have fired only a few shots for several days along the line as
far as we can see to the left. We have two 30-pounder Parrots and
6 6-pounders on the hill we occupy, from which we can give their
works an enfilading fire. At first they had cotton bales put up
around their guns to protect their gunners, but our shells soon
knocked them to pieces and set them on fire, so they found King
Cotton would not answer. Since we have been here, we have had one
killed (Lieut. Charles Luther), one supposed to have been mortally
wounded having been shot through the head, passing close behind
both eyes, but still living, rational and doing well, James
Taverner, Co.G, and 7 wounded as follows, viz: Corp. Otto
Uhlendorf, Co.I, hand slight; Moses S. Harrison, Co.D, thigh
severe; George Spellman, Co.D, head slight; Frank Streper, Co.A,
severe; Leonard Cook, Co.C, upper lip slight; Michael Smith, Co.E,
hand slight; Wm. Sedars, Co.H, hip severe. The several wounded have
been sent to a hospital boat.
Lieut. Luther was shot by a rifle ball, hitting to the right
of his mouth and passing out at the back of his neck. He was
watching the effect of the shots of our Parrot guns on the rebel
works at the time. He never spoke again, and died in about 20
minutes. His bereaved family have the sympathy of the host of warm
friends he made in the 76th regiment. He was a faithful officer,
and gave his life for a glorious cause.
I have told you where we are and what we are doing, now I will
give you a brief account of how we got here. On the morning of the
12th we advanced two miles when we came to a bridge across a deep
ravine, that the rebels had set on fire. Their sharpshooters opened
on our men, who went forward to make a bridge and cut the banks for
a road, and a considerable skirmish followed lasting half an hour
in which 14 men of our division were killed and wounded, when the
Rebs retired, and we crossed the ravine and found several of their
dead and wounded. Advancing through the woods half a mile to a
plantation, we came in sight of the rebels, who seemed disposed to
make a stand, but as soon as they saw our forces forming in line of
battle, they skeedaddled. Advancing a mile further, we came to a
bridge that had been torn down, but a road was made in the banks of
the ravine, and we crossed and bivouaced on the other side. The men
had drawn but little over half rations, and they went for
everything they could find on the plantations. There was not much
crowing of chickens there the next morning,and as the number of
boys that were fleshy about the eyes made it probable that there
were not many bee hives in the neighborhood filled with honey.
This morning (Monday May 18th) we took a road leading to the
Haynes' Bluff road, and when about noon we had got within five
miles of Vicksburg, and no cannonading had been heard, the opinion
began to prevail that the Rebels were going to give up the city,
and some talked quite confidently of taking supper there, but when
we had advanced a mile or two further the first booming of a cannon
was heard to the front, and our division was turned from the
Vicksburg road on a cross road leading to the river, and our
batteries soon opened on the enemy's first works, and an artillery
fight was kept up until night, and at intervals through the night.
In the morning it was discovered that the Rebs had evacuated their
works and fell back to another position. Moving up to their
evacuated works we found ourselves once more in sight of the
Mississippi. We were glad to see it, for it brought hopes of full
rations, having had but three days rations to do us for seven days.
I heard a good many of the boys offering 25 cents for a hard
cracker without succeeding in getting it. But that afternoon they
got a few, with a promise of more as soon as they could be got from
the boats on the Yazoo. In the afternoon the fight became general
all along the lines, and about 4 o'clock P.M. the 76th ran the
blockade of the rebel batteries, passing along at the foot of the
river bluffs and to the top of the hills we now occupy, with the
loss of only one man severely wounded, (James Taverner). The enemy
fell back about a mile during the day, before our division. Col.
Charles R. Woods is becoming very popular with the officers and men
of the brigade he is commanding and enjoys the confidence of Gens.
Steele and Sherman. His cool bravery is admired, and his care for
the preservation of the lives of his men make them regard him with
affection. His promotion would be hailed with delight.
This morning, May 31st, Col. Woods' Orderly, George McKinney,
died of pneumonia after only about a weeks illness. He enlisted in
the Gun Squad and was afterwards transferred to Co.D. The health of
the regiment is pretty good. Rations are plenty now, and the Sutler
is here with all his good things, so we are faring pretty well.
R.W. Burt
Note: Letter to The Newark True American Found at Vicksburg National Military Park.
Copyright © 1995-2000 Larry Stevens